Similarly, a traveler lost his way in the vast desert. His strength and provisions were exhausted, though he had a few dirhams with him. He wandered for a long time but found no way out and eventually perished from hardship. A group of people found him, with the dirhams placed …

An Arab, in the desert, overcome by extreme thirst, was saying:

"Oh, I wish that before my death, I could achieve my desire,

A river that reaches my knees, and I could fill my water skin."

I saw a Bedouin in the circle of jewelers in Basra, recounting his story: “Once, I lost my way in the desert and had no provisions left. I had resigned myself to death when suddenly I found a pouch full of pearls. I will never forget the joy and excitement …

Moses, peace be upon him, saw a dervish who had become naked and was lying on the sand.

The dervish said: “O Moses! Pray to God, exalted be He, to provide me with sustenance, for I am at the end of my endurance.”

Moses prayed and left.

A few days …

They asked Hatim al-Tai: “Have you ever seen or heard of anyone more noble-hearted than yourself in the world?”

He replied: "Yes! One day, I had sacrificed forty camels for the Arab nobles. Then, I went out to the desert for a need and saw a woodcutter gathering a pile …

A drought in Alexandria had exhausted the patience of the dervishes; the gates of heaven were closed to the earth, and the cries of the people reached the sky.

No creature, whether beast, bird, fish, or ant,

Was left that did not cry out to the heavens in despair.

It …

A dervish found himself in need.

Someone said: “So-and-so has immense wealth; if he becomes aware of your need, he will surely fulfill it without delay.”

The dervish replied: “I do not know him.”

The person said: “I will guide you.”

He took the dervish to the wealthy man’s house. …

One of the scholars had a large appetite but a small income. He mentioned his situation to a nobleman who respected him. The nobleman frowned at his request, finding it inappropriate for a man of learning to ask for help.

"Do not approach a dear friend with a frown,

For …

A brave man was severely wounded in the Tatar war.

Someone said: “Such-and-such merchant has a healing potion; if you ask, he might not withhold it.”

It is said that the merchant was known for his stinginess.

If the sun were in his bread basket,

No one would see daylight …

A grocer had a few dirhams owed to him by the Sufis in Wasit.

Every day, he would demand payment and speak harshly.

The companions were weary of his harassment, but they had no choice but to endure it.

A wise man among them said: “It is easier to promise …

One of the wise men was advising his son against overeating, saying that satiety makes people sick.

The son replied: “O father! Hunger kills people. Haven’t you heard the saying that it is better to die from overeating than to suffer from hunger?”

The father said: “Maintain moderation, ‘Eat and …

Two dervishes from Khorasan were traveling together. One was weak and would break his fast every two nights, while the other was strong and ate three times a day.

By chance, they were accused of espionage at the gate of a city. Both were imprisoned in a house, and the …